Twin River Announces Third Quarter 2020 Results

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Oct. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Twin River Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TRWH) (the "Company"), today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020.

Third Quarter 2020 and Recent Highlights

• Strong operating and Adjusted EBITDA margins continue trend of operational efficiencies since re-opening
• Income from operations of $23.4 million, increased $1.9 million or 9.0%, while net income of $6.7 million was slightly down, compared to third quarter 2019
• Adjusted EBITDA of $38.0 million for the quarter is up $2.4 million, or 6.8%, from same period in 2019
• Continued execution on growth and diversification strategy with recently announced acquisitions
• Closed $125 million offering of unsecured senior notes to enhance liquidity and support strategic growth opportunities

George Papanier, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are pleased that in the midst of this unprecedented operating environment, we continue to achieve positive financial results. Our significant margin expansion and early returns from our acquired properties in Kansas City and Vicksburg drove an increase in Adjusted EBITDA year-over-year, even amid continued limited capacity. These results are a testament not only to our dedicated management team and valued employees, but also to our proven business model. I am very proud of how hard the teams at the property level are working to keep our customers and team members safe during this challenging environment."

Papanier continued, "In addition to our strong financial performance this quarter, we continued to execute on our disciplined and diversified portfolio strategy. Including those properties under contract we are now positioned to operate in ten states. Additionally, we acquired the iconic Bally's brand, under which we will unite the high-quality customer offerings that span our increasingly national footprint, leveraging a brand synonymous with first-class gaming and entertainment. As the first step in this rebranding initiative, we recently announced that Twin River will change its name to Bally's Corporation, effective November 9, 2020."

Third Quarter 2020 Results

Revenue for the third quarter of 2020 decreased 9.8% to $116.6 million from $129.3 million in the third quarter of 2019. Revenue for the third quarter of 2020 continued to be negatively impacted by various state limitations on property patron counts, gaming positions and other amenities as a result of COVID-19, which was only partially offset by the incremental revenues of Casino KC and Casino Vicksburg, which were acquired on July 1, 2020.

The Company was able to mitigate the impact of this revenue reduction on earnings through operational efficiencies, and the resulting positive impact on margins, which continued a trend noted since re-opening from the pandemic. Income from operations in the third quarter of 2020 increased $1.9 million, or 9.0%, year-over-year to $23.4 million with operating margin increasing 346 bps to 20.05% compared to the same period last year. Margin improvements were primarily driven by labor savings, reduced marketing and promotional spend and the reduction in revenue on lower margin amenities.  

Net income for the third quarter of 2020 was $6.7 million, a decrease of $0.3 million, or 3.9%, from net income of $7.0 million in the third quarter last year. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2020 was $38.0 million, an increase of $2.4 million, or 6.8%, from Adjusted EBITDA of $35.6 million in the third quarter 2019.

Diluted EPS for the third quarter of 2020 was $0.22 per share compared to $0.18 per share in the comparable period in 2019. Adjusted EPS was $0.32 for the third quarter of 2020 compared to $0.27 in the same period in  2019.

Strategic Growth Update

On October 1, 2020, the Company announced it had entered into an agreement with Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. to acquire Jumer's Casino & Hotel in Rock Island, Illinois, for a purchase price of $120 million in cash. The acquisition would provide access to a growing gaming market in Illinois, with the potential to capitalize on potentially lucrative sports betting opportunities. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021 subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

On October 27, 2020, the Company announced it had entered into an agreement to acquire the Tropicana Evansville casino operations from Caesars Entertainment Corporation for $140 million. As part of the acquisition, Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. ("GLPI"), a publicly traded gaming-focused real estate investment trust, will acquire the real property located at Evansville from Caesars and lease it to the Company. The Company also announced that it will sell the real estate at Dover Downs to GLPI for $144 million in a sale-leaseback transaction. The purchase price payable by the Company for the operating assets of Tropicana Evansville will be included in the purchase price being paid by Gaming and Leisure Properties for the real estate resulting in no cash outlay by the Company to acquire the Evansville facility casino operations. Along with the Evansville operations, the Company will acquire Caesars' rights to a sports betting and iGaming skin in Indiana as part of the transaction. These transactions are expected to close in mid-2021, subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

The Company also continues to work through the regulatory approval process on its other pending acquisitions which were announced earlier this year. The Company expects to close its acquisition of Bally's Atlantic City and its acquisition of Eldorado Shreveport in Louisiana and MontBleu in Lake Tahoe, Nevada in mid-November 2020 and the first half of 2021, respectively, and its acquisition of Jumer's in the second quarter of 2021, subject, in each case, to receipt of all required approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. After the closing of all announced acquisitions, the Company will have approximately 16,000 slot machines or VLTs, approximately 550 table games and over 3,900 hotel rooms.

Proforma for all the pending acquisitions, the Company will operate 14 casino locations in ten states. 

"Our disciplined approach has preserved flexibility and moderated financial leverage to levels that have allowed us to have the liquidity to better deal with the kind of uncontrollable events 2020 has dealt us. Our first announced sale-leaseback transaction highlights, even during these challenging times, the untapped potential of our predominantly owned real estate portfolio,'" commented Papanier.

Other Financial Information

As of September 30, 2020, the Company had $115 million in cash and cash equivalents, excluding restricted cash, and an unfunded $250 million revolver. As previously announced, on October 9, 2020, the Company issued an additional $125 million of its 6.75% unsecured senior notes. Proforma for the additional $125 million of notes, the Company had cash on hand of approximately $240 million as of September 30, 2020 and the ability, subject to the terms of the applicable agreement, to borrow the full $250 million under the revolver, for a total liquidity of approximately $490 million. Proforma for the effect of all cash amounts due within the next 12 months on previously announced acquisitions, the Company's remaining proforma liquidity, excluding any expected free cash flow, is approximately $200 million. The Company has no substantial scheduled debt maturities before 2024. 

Interest expense, net of interest income, for the third quarter of 2020 increased $6.3 million to $16.9 million compared to the third quarter last year. This increase was a result of timing, differences in interest rates, and debt obligations outstanding in each respective period.

The Company recorded a tax benefit of $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2020 despite generating positive income before tax of $6.5 million for the period. This benefit can be attributed to the impact of the CARES Act on the federal rate applied during the quarter related to newly acquired properties in Kansas City and Vicksburg.

The Company generated approximately $18.1 million in cash flow from operations in the quarter and had capital expenditures of $3.1 million for the period, resulting in free cash flow from operations of approximately $15.0 million in the quarter.

Change in Segments

Beginning in the third quarter of 2020, the Company changed its reportable segments to better align with its strategic growth initiatives in light of recent and pending acquisitions. Operating segments are now combined into four segments: Rhode Island, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and West. The Company's reporting of its third quarter 2020 results in the tables below reflect these new segments.

Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures

To supplement the financial information presented on a generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") basis, the Company has included in this earnings release non-GAAP financial measures for Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, gross gaming revenue, adjusted earnings per diluted share, and free cash flow from operations, which exclude certain items described below. The Company believes these measures represent important measures of financial performance that provide useful information that is helpful in understanding the Company's ongoing operating results. The reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to their comparable GAAP financial measures are presented in the tables appearing below.

"Adjusted EBITDA" is earnings, or loss, for the Company, or where noted the Company's reporting segments, before, in each case, interest expense, net of interest income, (benefit) provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-operating income, acquisition, integration and restructuring expense, goodwill and asset impairment, expansion and re-opening expenses, share-based compensation, professional and advisory fees associated with capital return program, CARES Act credit, credit agreement amendment expenses, gain on insurance recoveries, and certain other gains or losses as well as, when presented for the Company's reporting segments, an adjustment related to the allocation of corporate cost among segments. Adjusted EBITDA margin is measured as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue.

"Gross gaming revenue" represents total gaming revenue adjusted for the State of Rhode Island's and the State of Delaware's respective shares of net terminal income, table games revenue and other gaming revenue, and is being presented by the Company to reflect the unique structure of the Company's operations in those states where each state's share of the Company's revenues is retained at the gross revenue level rather than through taxes. Management believes that the presentation of gaming revenue on a gross basis allows for comparisons to gross gaming win data provided throughout the gaming industry.

"Adjusted EPS" represents net income, or loss, per diluted share before acquisition, integration and restructuring expense, credit agreement amendment expenses, professional and advisory fees associated with capitalization programs, CARES Act credit, gain on insurance recoveries, goodwill and asset impairment charge, and certain other gains or losses.

"Free cash flow" represents cash flow from operations net of capital expenditures.

Management has historically used Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted EPS, and free cash flow when evaluating operating performance because the Company believes that the inclusion or exclusion of certain recurring and non-recurring items is necessary to provide a full understanding of the Company's core operating results and as a means to evaluate period-to-period performance. Management also believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a measure that is widely used for evaluating operating performance of companies in our industry and a principal basis for valuing resort and gaming companies like the Company. Management of the Company believes that while certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS may be recurring in nature and should not be disregarded in evaluating the Company's earnings performance, it is useful to exclude such items when comparing current performance to prior periods because these items can vary significantly depending on specific underlying transactions or events that may not be comparable between the periods presented or they may not relate specifically to current operating trends or be indicative of future results. Neither Adjusted EBITDA nor Adjusted EPS should be construed as an alternative to GAAP net income or GAAP diluted EPS, respectively, as an indicator of the Company's performance. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA or Adjusted EPS as used by the Company may not be defined in the same manner as other companies in the Company's industry, and, as a result, may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures of other companies.  

Third Quarter Conference Call

The Company's third quarter 2020 earnings conference call and audio webcast will be held today, Thursday, October 29, 2020, at 8:00 AM EDT. To access the conference call, please dial  (833) 570-1160 (U.S. toll-free) and reference conference ID number 4476492. The webcast of the call will be available to the public, on a listen-only basis, via the Internet at the Investors section of the Company's website at www.twinriverwwholdings.com. An online archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for 120 days. Supplemental materials have also been posted to the Investors section of the website, under Events & Presentations.

About Twin River Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

Twin River Worldwide Holdings, Inc., which will change its name to Bally's Corporation effective November 9, 2020, currently owns and operates nine casinos across five states, a horse racetrack, and 13 authorized OTB licenses in Colorado. With over 3,800 employees, the Company's operations include 10,359 slot machines or VLTs, 300 game tables, and 1,290 hotel rooms. Properties include Twin River Casino Hotel (Lincoln, RI), Tiverton Casino Hotel (Tiverton, RI), Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi, MS), Casino Vicksburg (Vicksburg, MS), Dover Downs Hotel & Casino (Dover, DE), Casino KC, (Kansas City, MO), Golden Gates Casino (Black Hawk, CO), Golden Gulch Casino (Black Hawk, CO), Mardi Gras Casino (Black Hawk, CO), and Arapahoe Park racetrack (Aurora, CO). Its shares currently trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "TRWH," but will change to "BALY" when trading commences on November 9, 2020.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains "forward-looking" statements as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than historical facts, including future financial and operating results and the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, legal, economic and regulatory conditions are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are sometimes identified by words like "may," "plans," "will," "should," "potential," "intend," "expect," "endeavor," "seek," "anticipate," "estimate," "overestimate," "underestimate," "believe," "could," "project," "predict," "continue," "target" or other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others, (1) uncertainty surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including uncertainty regarding its extent, duration and impact, the resulting closure of Twin Rivers' properties (all of which have reopened at some limited level of capacity) and the risk that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (whether as a result of recent increases in the number of positive cases, or otherwise) may require Twin River's properties, or those that it has agreed to acquire, to close again for an indeterminable period of time; (2) the time it will take Twin River to return its facilities to full capacity and the restrictions applicable to its facilities until then; (3) the costs to comply with any mandated health requirements associated with the virus; (4) customer responses as Twin River's facilities continue to operate under various restrictions including the time it takes customers to return to the facilities and the frequency with which they visit Twin River's facilities; (5) the economic uncertainty and challenges in the economy resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the resulting reduced levels of discretionary consumer spending; (6) challenges Twin River may face in bringing employees back to work upon re-opening of its facilities; (7) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the recently completed acquisitions; (8) uncertainty of the expected financial performance of Twin River, including the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of its acquisitions; (9) Twin River's ability to implement its business strategy, including its ability to consummate those transactions it has announced but that are not yet consummated (including, its proposed sale of, and agreement to lease back, the real estate of its Dover Downs property) and successfully integrate those businesses; (10) evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes; (11) the effects of competition that exists in the gaming industry; (12) the actions taken to reduce costs and losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which could negatively impact guest loyalty and our ability to attract and retain employees; (13) risks associated with increased leverage from Twin River's recently completed and proposed acquisitions and financings; (14) the inability or unwillingness of the lenders under our revolving credit facility to fund requests that we may make to borrow amounts under the facility; (15) increased borrowing costs associated with higher levels of borrowing and other indebtedness and (16) other risk factors as detailed under Part I. Item 1A. "Risk Factors" of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2020, the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2020 and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2020 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 13, 2020. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive.

Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication. Twin River does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or development, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements.